Air conditioning system



July 31, 1956 LE ROY N. HERMANN 2,756,970

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed NOV. 16, 1954 WWE' Cam/farce o/v/ Y 64 Com/5c rm? Cam/i: 70E

EVHPOPA T Can/J5 MSE? O P5 VNU/5 INVENToR. /Ey /Y Hsfmmv/v BY rrafemex "2 Awe nited States Patent AIR 'CONDITIONING SYSTEM Le Roy N. Hermann, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 16, 1954, Serial No. 469,236

Claims. (Cl. 257-3) My invention relates to an air conditioning system for buildings of the type which may be used for cooling the building in the summer and for heating they building in the winter.

My invention further contemplates the use of a refrigerating apparatus and refrigerant which may be utilized for both the heating and the cooling of the building.

The principal object of thev present invention is yto provide an air conditioning system for houses or other types of building units which may be completely automatic in operation, depending entirely upon the outside temperature for actuation for heating or cooling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved air conditioning system which may be installed without insulated pipe or conduit and by which zone by zone heating and cooling control may be obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning system which may be composed of a rplurality of convector and combined convector and Ievaporator units for separate rooms or zones, all in a continuous circulation arrangement, and one which has `all the advantages of a vacuum steam system.

A further object of the invention is to provideanair conditioning system of the type described which may be installed as a single unit, but which, when required, may be added to to provide heating orv cooling in additional convectors or combined convector and evaporator units'.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the features and advantages of my improved system, reference is had to the following description and vaccompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. i 1

The single drawing is a diagrammatic view illustraing a system embodying my invention, as installed an t vectors only for direct heating when desired and two .co-mbined convectors and evaporators in other rooms, it will of course be understood that the number may be varied and the arrangement need'not be either in .the proportion shown nor necessarily Vwith convectors and evaporators of the same size. Theimportant `feature resides in the tact that in a single installation I have llzrrnvided `a combined heating and/or cooling unit with a plurality of separate closures to be individually air conditioned.

The system which I provide may include an outdoor thermostat 21 which may have an electric circuit 2.?,k rextending to an oil burner or other heating unit 24 to control the operation of the same in accordance with the outdoor temperature, and a second electric circuit 25 ice of .condenser .32 Awhenever it is .desired to vuse the heat ing apparatus.

Ihe :central installation, preferably in the basement as ishown, .may also :include .a rotary compressor 28 lsuitably driven by an telectric :motor 30 and a condenser 32. A vent 15 may extend vfrom .the combined receiver and steam generator 26 to an outside location. The rotary compressor 2S is of fthe type iwell known inthe art which will .handle a'liquid, a .combination of liquid :and gas, yor gas ;only. This compressor may -be of the type shown in the patent tto W. Von -Pitt1er, No. 974,913, issued -November v8, `1910, :and by the .use .of which .the return fline S4, :later lto vbe described, -is connected to the finlet lfor the suction pipe 9, Fig. 2 vof said patent, and the delivery lis ,at the showingjfor .delivery pipe 11 of said patent, to .conduit l91 for 93, depending upon whether heating lvor cooling is desired.

The vsystem generally may comprise a uid conduit 48 which extends from `the steam generator 26 through a pressure responsive Vvalue B. Valves such as B are shown throughout the circuit where required, and marked #2 avalve. These valves, which -are all similar, are adapted 1to :operate to permit the passage of gas or iluid at :a fcomparatively -lowxpressure, .and adapted to `shut oi when .the `pressure reaches a Lmaximum, such for :example'as 25 pounds.

A .plurality Iof similar valves A, marked #l valve, are also used throughout the circuit, these valves also abeing pressurev operated and :adapted to open lto permit the passage of huid at higher `than .a vminimum pressure, such zfor example as fat 7/'5 pounds .or over.

The conduit 48., as shown, may extend from the 'bottom of steam generator 26 through valve B through individual leads or conduits 51 and :53 communicating with convectors 50 :and combined convectors and evaporators ,70 in a manner which will be more fully explained hereinaiiter.

A return line 54 is vconnected through leads 52 with 'the convectors 50 and with .leads 74 to the lcombined Yconvector and evaporator 70, the return being to the compressor 28. From the compressor 28, and depend- :ing ton whetherheat-ing or cooling is desired, fluid 'will pass -either through a `valve A in conduit 91 to .combined receiver :and .steam generator 26, and if cooling is required, through valve B up through conduit 93. If heating :is required, the iiuid to fbe heated will leave receiver and generator 26 through .line `95 and valve A v.to enter .conduit 48. The typeof fluid preferred will be discussed hereinafter, the same being used for either heating or cooling.

When lfluid for cool-ing is directed to the combined convector and evaporator 70, it passes up through conduits 48 and 56 through a heat exchange unit 60, con- Iduit 62 and expansion valve l'64 and conduit 66 to a mani- 4 fold distributor which has a plurality of tubes 68 Icommunicating with various .'levels of the unit 70. From the unit /70 the :expanded ygas Yliows through conduit 74 through valve #2 into heat exchanger 60 and returns through lconduit 61 `to the return line 54. A motor 72 is associated with the .convector and evaporator unit 70, the vcontrol for the motor being the usual room thermostat 81 which Ihas :an electric conduit 83 connected to which will operate to shut oit the motor-vof. theffbloyver 'the motor 72. v

When heating is desired in the combined convector :and evaporator 70, fluid will also pass from the main line 48 through conduit 56 and heat exchange unit 60 to a by- Apass in the line `62 through a valve #l to l`the manifold for .the unit 7a4). The return of the huid will be through the conduit 74 and conduit 76 through a valve #l to the return pipe 54.

A typical operation, both heating and cooling, will now be described. Forcooling, the outside thermostat 21, op-

erating at above 80 F., shuts oit burner 24 and opens the solenoid on condenser 32, or opens shutters on condenser 32, causing assumed liquid temperature of 200 F., and pressure of 80 p. s. i. to drop throughout the entire system.

Gas leaves the rotary compressor 28 through conduit 93 to type #2 valve B through condenser 32 through conduit 95 (type #l valve A being closed to passage of gas or liquid) to receiver 26, and from bottom outlet to receiver through type #2 valve B and up through conduits 48 and 51 through conduit 56. The liquid then goes through the heat exchanger 60 out through conduit 62, through expansion valve 64 (by-pass valve #l is closed to passage of fluid at the lower pressures used in cooling) through conduit 66 to distributors 68 into evaporator 70; expansion and absorption having taken place, the liquid has now become gas and the gas flows in conduit low side line 74 through valve #'2 (valve #l blocking gas flow at this time) through heat exchanger 60 out return line 61, into return conduit 54, back to compressor 28 to repeat the cycle. It will be noted that any ow leading to conduit 53 and into convector 50 back through conduit 52 to return conduit 54 is blocked by valve #l so no ilow is possible.

For heating, assuming that the system has been on the cooling cycle described above and the outside temperature drops to 65 F. causing the thermostat 21 to start the burner 24 and shutoff condenser 32, the heat rise caused by operating burner 24 in the combination receiver and steam generator will raise the pressure in the entire systern to over 80 p. s. i., causing all #l valves to move from a closed position to an open position, and all #2 valves to move from an open position to a closed position.

Liquid from the rotary compressor 28 flows through valve #l in conduit 91 into the combined receiver and steam generator 26 where it is heated and ows from generator 26 through conduit 95 and through type #1 valve A to conduit 48 and conduits 51 and 56 to the heat exchanger 60; then from the heat exchanger 60 through conduit 62 through by-pass valve #l into conductor 66 and through distributor 68 into convector 70, and after losing some of the liquid heat, passes out through conduit 74 through conduit 76 and valve #l out to return conduit 54, returning to compressor 28 to repeat the cycle. It should be noted that valve #2 in conduit line 74 blocks liquid tlow through the heat exchanger 60, so that the heat exclhanger 60 acts only as a conduit during the heating cyc e.

In the heating phase of this system, part of the liquid ows through conduit 48, through valve #1, through conduit 53, into convector 50 and returns through conduit 52 to conduit 54, owing to compressor 28 to repeat the heating cycle. The convectors S have damper controls, and are used in kitchens and baths, and cannot be used for cooling; each room is its own separate zone and separately controlled.

Because liquids carry more heat than gas, and high pressure compels gas to remain mostly liquid or very dense gas, the duid flow during the heating cycle will be either liquid or combined liquid and gas at a stage Very near a liquid state.

This system presents a unique advantage of combining units which can be adapted to heat only, or to provide both heating and cooling in differing zones with no change of the system, nor any manual correction or manipulation, the system being entirely automatic and adapted to be controlled for heating by the outside thermostat 21, and to be controlled for cooling by the room thermostats 81, providing zone by zone and room by room control.

A system of this kind prevents and precludes a grievous fault with full air distribution systems in that each room and zone is treated individually and no mixtures of noxious odors or gases may be traveled by virtue of a common circuit.

Relative pressures used in tests of this system were for heating gases and liquids at lbs. of pressure and 220 degrees of temperature, and when reverting to the cooling cycle, vacuums of 18 lbs. were used on the low side and a pressure of l0 lbs. per square inch on the high side.

A preferred type of tluid for systems of this description might be Freon No. 1l. Other gases may be used having similar characteristics by varying the pressure factors in the control valves A and B and other components of the system.

While I have illustrated and described a specific ernbodiment of the invention in a general schematic system, it will of course be understood that changes and modiiications may be made in the details shown, and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States l. Air conditioning apparatus of a house having a plurality of separate closures therein adapted to be heated or cooled, said apparatus including a combination receiver and steam generator, a condenser, a rotary compressor, a conduit from said rotary compressor to both said combination receiver and steam generator and to said condenser, a low pressure-responsive valve between said rotary compressor and said condenser, said valve adapted to shut off when pressure of uid therethrough reaches a predetermined maximum, a high pressure-responsive valve in said conduit between said rotary compressor and said combination receiver and steam generator, said valve operated to permit flow of uid therethrough at higher than a predetermined minimum pressure, a supply conduit extending from said combined receiver and steam generator, a combined convector and evaporator, said supply conduit communieating therewith, a low pressure-responsive valve in said conduit adjacent said combined receiver and steam generator, a conduit connecting said condenser and combination receiver and steam generator, a by-pass from said conduit to said supply conduit, a high pressure valve in said by-pass, said supply conduit having an expansion valve therein ahead of said convector and evaporator, a by-pass line around said expansion valve, a high pressure valve in said by-pass line and a return conduit from said convector and evaporator to said rotary compressor.

2. Air conditioning apparatus for a house having a plurality of separate closures therein adapted to be heated or cooled, said apparatus including a combination receiver and steam generator, a condenser, a rotary compressor, a conduit from said rotary compressor to both said combination receiver and steam generator and to said condenser, a low pressure-responsive valve between said rotary compressor and said condenser, said valve adapted to shut off when pressure of fluid therethrough reaches a predetermined maximum, a high pressure responsive valve in said conduit between said rotary conipressor and said combination receiver and steam generator, said valve operated to permit ow of fluid therethrough at higher than a predetermined minimum pressure, a supply conduit extending from said combined receiver and steam generator, a combined convector and evaporator, said supply conduit communicating therewith, a 10W pressure-responsive valve in said conduit adjacent said combined receiver and steam generator, a conduit connecting said condenser and combination receiver and steam generator, a by-pass from said conduit to said supply conduit, a high pressure valve in said bypass, saidsupply conduit having an expansion valve therein ahead of said convector and evaporator, a by-pass line around said expansion valve, a high pressure valve in said by-pass line and a return conduit from said convector and evaporator to said rotary compressor, a heat exchanger unit associated with said supply conduit adjacent the combined convector and evaporator, a bypass from said return conduit extending therethrough and connected to said return conduit beyond said high pressure valve, said by-pass having a low pressure valve therein permitting uid passage therethrough only during a coolingA phase.

3. Air conditioning apparatus for a house having a plurality of separate closures therein adapted to be heated or cooled, said apparatus including a combination receiver and steam generator, a condenser, a rotary cornpressor, a conduit from said rotary compressor to both said combination receiver and steam generator and to said condenser, a low pressure-responsive valve between said rotary compressor and said condenser, said valve adapted to shut off when pressure of uid therethrough reaches a predetermined maximum, a high pressure-responsive valve in said conduit between said rotary compressor and said combination receiver and steam generator, said valve operated to permit ow of uid therethrough at higher than a predetermined minimum pressure, a supply conduit extending from said combined receiver and steam generator, a combined convector and evaporator, said supply conduit communicating therewith, a low pressureresponsive valve in said conduit adjacent said combined receiver and steam generator, a conduit connecting said condenser and combination receiver and steam generator, a by-pass from said conduit to said supply conduit, a high pressure valve in said by-pass, said supply conduit having an expansion valve therein ahead of said convector and evaporator, a by-pass line around said expansion valve, a high pressure valve in said by-pass line and a return conduit from said convector and evaporator to said rotary compressor, a heat exchanger unit in said return conduit and a high pressure valve and a low pressure valve associated therewith to permit return through the heat exchanger during a cooling phase and to by-pass the heat exchanger during a heating phase.

4. Air conditioning apparatus for a house having a plurality of separate closures therein adapted to be heated or cooled, said apparatus including a combination receiver and steam generator, a condenser, a rotary compressor, a conduit from said rotary compressor to both said combination receiver and steam generator and to said condenser, a low pressure-responsive valve between said rotary compressor and said condenser, said valve adapted to shut off when pressure of fluid therethrough reaches a predetermined maximum, a high pressure-responsive valve in said conduit between said rotary compressor and said combination receiver and steam generator, said valve operated to permit ow of uid therethrough at higher than a predetermined minimum pressure, a supply conduit extending from said combined receiver and steam generator, a combined convector and evaporator, said supply conduit communicating therewith, a blower associated with said combined convector and evaporator, a low pressure-responsive valve in said conduit adjacent said combined receiver and steam generator, a conduit connecting said condenser and combination receiver and steam generator, a by-pass from said conduit to said supply conduit, a high pressure valve in said by-pass, said supply conduit having an expansion valve therein ahead of said convector and evaporator, a by-pass line around said expansion valve, a high pressure valve in said by-pass line and a return conduit from said convector and evaporator to said rotary compressor, a heat exchanger unit in said return conduit and a high pressure valve and a low pressure valve associated therewith to permit return through the heat exchanger during a cooling phase and to by-pass the heat exchanger during a heating phase.

5. Air conditioning apparatus for a house having a plurality of separate closures therein adapted to be heated or cooled, said apparatus including a combination receiver and steam generator, a condenser, a rotary compressor, a conduit from said rotary compressor to both said combination receiver and steam generator and to said condenser, a low pressure-responsive valve between said rotary compressor and said condenser, said valve adapted to shut olf when pressure of tluid therethrough reaches a predetermined maximum, a high pressure-responsive valve in said conduit between said rotary compressor and said combinaton receiver and steam `generator, said valve operated to permit flow of fluid therethrough at higher than a predetermined minimum pressure, a supply conduit extending from said combined receiver and steam-generator, a combined convector and evaporator, said supply conduit communicating therewith, a heat exchanger associated with said supply conduit and positioned adjacent said combined convector and evaporator, a low pressure-responsive valve in said conduit adjacent said combined receiver and steam generator, a conduit connecting said condenser and combination receiver and steam generator, a by-pass from said conduit to said supply conduit, a high pressure Valve in said bypass, said supply conduit having an expansion valve therein ahead of said convector and evaporator, a by-pass line around said expansion Valve, a low pressure valve in said by-pass line and a return conduit from said convector and evaporator to said rotary compressor, said heat exchanger connected by a by-pass line in said return conduit only during a cooling phase.

Dasher Oct. 28, 1941 La Porte Iuly 14, 1953 

